Green=served Purple=underesrved Red=unserved
Rank (from 100/20 megabits per second): 7
Code: Green
Annually, Blandin Foundation pulls together data from the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development and broadband news to gauge progress toward the state broadband goals (25 megabits per second download/3 Mbps upload by 2022 and 100 Mbps/20 Mbps by 2026). Leaders can use this information to improve broadband access and use in their communities. To see how the state is doing overall, or to compare counties, visit the Blandin Foundation interactive map. Or check out past years’ reports: 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Big Stone County: remains in top 10 ranking for broadband at speeds of 100/20
In 2018, after partnering with Federated Telephone Cooperative on a successful MN Border to Border grant, Big Stone County moved to top 10 (often top 5) ranking for access to 100/20 Mbps broadband. Their broadband access remains the same; their ranking slips only because other counties are doing even better. It’s good to see their recent involvement in the State Telecommuter Forward program, showing an interest in broadband promotion and use as well as access.
Broadband Access:
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
| 100/20 (2026 goal) | 98.6 | 98.91 | 98.91 | 70.12 |
| 25/3 (2022 goal) | 99.48 | 99.58 | 98.91 | 70.12 |
| County | Households with computer | …with desktop or laptop | …with a smartphone | …with a tablet et al | …with other |
| State of MN | 90.3% | 81.1% | 76.5% | 59.3% | 3.5% |
| Big Stone | 78.6% | 69.3% | 58.4% | 44.0% | 2.8% |
What we learned in the past:
In 2014, Big Stone benefited from a MN state broadband grant:
- 2014 – Federated Telephone Cooperative, Big Stone County
That moved them from pretty good status to contenders in 2018.
Update from 2020:
Big Stone County was named one of 23 Telecommuter Forward communities by the State in August 2020. How this will manifest during COVID is yet to be seen but it shows an interest in broadband adoption.
Checklist:
- Find more articles on broadband in Big Stone County. (http://tinyurl.com/zfgwstd)
- 100/20 Mbps ranking: 7 (down 2)
- Has worked with Blandin: yes
- Has received a MN Broadband grant: yes
- Household density: 4.3
Details:
- Districts: CD 7
Senate: 12
House: 12A - Find your reps
I am doing the annual look at broadband in each county – based on maps from the Office of Broadband Development and news gathered from the last year. I’m looking at progress toward the 2022 (25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up) and 2026 (100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up) and will code each:
- Red (yikes)
- Yellow (warning)
- Green (good shape)
